Hanging Out in 2019 - Best of 2019
(DISCLAIMER: Until 2020 all my "Best Of" lists were on Facebook in the Notes section. In 2020, when I hadn't used Facebook for 6 months, they decided to do away with Notes. I was still able to access some of them, such as this one, but the layouts are a little wonky.)
Hello and welcome to Jake Michael Chandler’s Media Conglomerate and Annual Culture Review, Inc. (or JMC-MTD-CSI-SUV for short)! A lot has happened for me this year - new city, new job - but I still managed to find some tasty jams for y’all. I’ll also be including Movies again this year and I’ve even added two more categories - TV and Stand-up! There’s a lot to get through here and I probably talk too much anyways, so let’s get right to it!
Best of 2019 Mix
- “Glory” - Friday Pilots Club
- “Wild Stare” - Giant Rooks
- “Better” - Super Whatevr
- “Beggar’s Song” - Matt Maeson
- “Dance Monkey” - Tones and I
- “Let Go” - Judah & the Lion
- “Dead Boys” - Sam Fender
- “Typical Story” - Hobo Johnson
- “The Midwest Sky” - Tiny Moving Parts
- “Head Hunter” - Dance Gavin Dance
- “The Search” - NF
- “heavy metal (feat. Rahzel)” - Bring Me the Horizon
- “Rock Bottom” - grandson
- “Sister” - K. Flay
- “The Light Upon Us” - Talos
- “What I Want” - The Band Camino
- “Bitter Conversation” - Ra Ra Riot
- “RUNAWAY” - half•alive
- “Can’t Wait Forever” - Friendly Fires
- “Lonely Earth” - Icarus
(please feel free to make this playlist in other services I don’t use and provide a link, such as iTunes Music, Google Play, or whatever your preferred method. I’ll post it here to help others who use those services too!)
20 songs across the boards to catch your ears, and as you’ll hear towards the end, the ‘70s have become a thing again. You may also notice the song “Sister” by K. Flay and that I’m not exactly the target audience for it, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t one of the catchiest things I’ve heard all year. You can’t really tell since they sing in English, but there’s a German band on this list, so that’s a new one for me (Giant Rooks). I try to start my mixes with my favorite song of the year usually, and “Glory” was my favorite since I heard it back in February I believe, but “Beggar’s Song” by Matt Maeson is possibly a tie for my favorite this year.
Best Albums of 2019
This was a rough year again for me for finding full albums to enjoy. There’s a few reasons for this, one of which is the fact that I moved across the country this year, so doing that and finding ways to pay rent in my expensive new city took up a lot of time. Another is probably related to an interview I saw with Ben Gibbard earlier this year in which he said that as you get older it’s harder to find new/great music since you’ve already heard a lot, and it’s hard for a new album or new band to be as exciting as it was when you were 20. I think this goes double for musicians, since I’ve actively sought out new music every year for over a decade now.
But I did dig around a lot and am able to present you with 4 albums, 3 from this year and 1 from a previous year. If you are looking for more then definitely check out the albums and more of any of the acts on my mix up there, I just found it hard to enjoy more than 2 or 3 songs on most albums this year.
I discovered Matt Maeson last year and his EP made my list then too. He released a full length this year with 10 new songs (12 total) and it was, without a doubt, my favorite of the year. I don’t know how to explain it other than the blanket terms of Alternative/Pop/Rock, but everything feels right here - powerful beats, pads, horns, liberal use of acoustic guitar, the dynamics, all of it is excellent. Any of the first 8 songs on this album could’ve made my mix, but the build, horns, and punches of “Beggar’s Song” just slightly rose it above the rest. Plus, the sentiment can just help you through a rough day.
I forget how I found Talos, but I’m glad I did. With layers of pads, keys, and plenty of falsetto to go around, Talos creates an excellent, electronic soundscape. The album is mostly relaxing, even during some peak moments of a few songs. He has another album from 2017 that I haven’t listened to yet, but you can be sure I will. If you’re a fan of Bon Iver or Vancouver Sleep Clinic, or any ambient band really, then you’ll definitely want to check out Talos.
I first heard The Band Camino back in 2016 and liked a few choice songs of theirs, however they seemed to flounder around in the Retro/Dance/Pop genre, sometimes sounding like copycats of The 1975 or LANY. Things changed in 2018/19 when they got picked up by their new label though. “tryhard” is an 8-track album that could probably have been cut down to a 6-track EP, but it doesn’t overstay its welcome too much. With this new label they’ve found their sound, with guitars front and center and the pads/synths taking more of a backseat. The song I chose for my mix, “What I Want,” is one of their older ones that I was sad I was never able to put on a mix since I found them after they had made it, but they re-recorded it for this new album and it sounds great. If choosing from the new songs I would’ve said “Daphne Blue” or “Honest,” but most of them are fun, modern Pop/Rock. So if you’re looking for a dose of Summer or just something to cruise to on a night out, give this album a listen and bob your head and rock some air guitar.
Bonus Album
So earlier this year I found myself itching to get back into the heavy music scene since I realized most of the music I listened to that had any screaming or thick distortion or double-bass drums was 2012 or earlier. So I dove in, asking for any and all recommendations post-2012, and this album just clicked with me after the first listen. I knew of Dance Gavin Dance from way back in the day, but they were always a little too hardcore for my tastes. Well now they’re one of the top Post-Hardcore/Math Rock bands out there, and I love it. I discovered a lot of bands in this genre now tend to have two vocalists - one screamer and one clean. Well sometime around 2012 (go figure) DGD got a new clean vocalist and his voice fits perfectly, soaring above the chaos happening with all the instruments. I recommend starting with the album opener, “Chucky vs. the Giant Tortoise,” and just going from there. I’ll admit not being into all 13 songs on the album, but most of them are good. If you’ve been out of the scene for a while and feel like trying to rock your way back in, give this a listen. Admittedly it’s not from 2019, but I felt the need to share it nonetheless, especially considering the lack of full albums I enjoyed in 2019 overall.
Best Films of 2019
This list doesn’t include any of the superhero movies (Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel, Shazam!, Spider-Man: Far from Home) because if you know me, you know that I’m already a huge superhero geek, so I could talk at length about just those films. I mean, Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark and his story arc over the past 11yrs alone is award worthy.....but I digress. The only time I’ll write about one in particular is if it was bad, and probably not even then because I’m trying to avoid talking about disappointments for the year.
There are many other films I wanted to see but wasn’t able to get around to in time, so of all the movies I did see here’s my favorites! Oh, and I also suggest adopting the practice of not watching more than 1min of a movie trailer if you can help it. All these 2-3min trailers out there feel like they ruin the whole thing for me. But whatever works for you.
I knew it’d be funny, but from the writing to the acting to the shot choices, this film was just so good all around. Set in an undisclosed time period (most likely the ’90s), the basic premise is it’s about a man who gets mugged and then starts taking karate classes to give himself more confidence. It sounds like a simple feel-good film but is actually a smart indie/dark comedy and the best film Jesse Eisenberg has done in quite a while. I’ll be honest and say this type of humor isn’t for everyone, it can be an uncomfortable type of humor, but give it a chance, you just might love it.
As soon as I saw just part of the trailer I knew I wanted to see this movie. Although it was one of the best films to come out this summer, it didn’t get enough big press to really take off and get the recognition it deserved. Aside from being the funniest coming of age film since Superbad, this was also Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut, and she did an excellent job, she definitely has a future as a director alongside her acting career. Everything about this film was on point and it was my favorite comedy of the year.
When we first turned on Klaus just looking for a Christmas movie to watch in the background I only partially paid attention, but after the first 15min or so I was glued to the tv. There were plenty of good animation films this year, Toy Story 4 and Lego Movie 2 were both solid and funny, but I think the fact that I had no expectations for Klaus made it that much better. It’s a unique take on the origins of Santa and keeps things enjoyable for both kids and adults. The animation is smooth and lovely to look at as well. I really hope this wins Best Animated Feature at the Oscars this year.
You’ve probably heard of this movie and it deserves all the recognition it’s received this year. I don’t think it’s quite the best film of the year, but it is ONE of the best. I can’t say too much about it without revealing the plot, but the pacing is amazing and as things are revealed you become that much more invested as the film goes along. You may need to get a massage after seeing this movie, as you will likely be tensed up from the many moments in the film where the house of cards that director/writer Bong Joon-ho has built feels like it could fall apart, leaving it to feel like a mediocre drama/thriller. But don’t worry, you won’t regret taking 2hrs to indulge in this masterpiece.
The setting, style, music, acting, and Daniel Craig’s over the top Southern accent make this one of the most enjoyable films of the year. It’s a little odd for a murder/mystery to seemingly reveal its own ending at the beginning of the movie, but come along for the ride, as things in the Drysdale household aren’t always what they seem. While it doesn’t quite reach the perfection of Clue, it’s still a great blend of comedy and mystery, so grab your detective hat and pipe for a good time at the movies. Don’t think too hard though, as you may miss some of the fun along the way.
Best Stand-Up of 2019
Welcome to my first new category! I’ve been a fan of Stand-up for a long time and probably watched more of it this year than any other. This is partially thanks to my new job but there’s also been a boom in Stand-up in the past 5yrs or so, with Netflix releasing tons of new specials and now other streaming services starting to get in on the action as well. Here I’ll give you in-depth reviews of my 6 favorites and a few more short “quick picks.” So leave your morals at the door and let’s get into it!
Anthony Jeselnik has been one of my favorite comedians for years now, delivering mostly short, dark jokes on every special. Usually when a comedian is known for one-liners/short-form jokes, they seem like a machine gun rattling off punchline after punchline, possibly making up for some weaker jokes by trying to keep the laughter going. But Jeselnik crafts each joke with the care of building a ship in a bottle, where timing is everything…..and then he turns that bottle into a molotov cocktail and lobs it into the crowd where it explodes with laughter. The only thing that overshadows this special is the fact that his last one, “Thoughts and Prayers,” is such an iconic work of genius and came along at exactly the right time, I’m afraid he may never top it. But this special is still great and continues to cement his status as the current king of misdirection and well-crafted dark humor. If you’re on the fence during this special, just try to make it through ’til the end, where he finishes with a rare 15min long bit on abortion. (available on Netflix)
Dan Soder is someone I’ve seen around but never really took the time to listen to until this year, and boy am I glad I did. Soder is the stoner friend that you wish you had, instead of all the stoner friends you did have. Raised by a single mom in the midwest, currently in his mid-30s, single, and living with a roommate in NYC, Soder seems like just your average dude trudging along in life. Except this “average” guy is more hilarious than 95% of people. He’s got jokes about his dead dad, drugs (of course), singing in the shower, and more. If you like this special then you’re lucky, because he’s got plenty of clips on youtube and another special or two, so you’ll be able to spend hours checking out everything he’s done before this as well. (available on HBO)
First of all if, you haven’t seen any of his other specials then you probably should go back and watch his first two on Netflix (“Live Shows” which is split into 2 specials: “Dark” and “Jigsaw,” respectively) because it gives you a sense of his style and reveals a “secret” which is ruined if you watch his 2nd or this special before the first one. Anyways, “X” continues Sloss’ style of introspective dark humor, commenting on education, masculinity, and rape in this special, all while bringing you into how his brain (and maybe yours) works in these situations. Even though he’s just 28, he’s probably thought about things and mentally worked on himself more than most of us have. It may be a special full of dark and offensive jokes, but you might just come away learning a little something, either about yourself or your friends. Oh, and he’s Scottish. (available on HBO)
I don’t know what to say about Dave that hasn’t already been said. Even if you aren’t normally into stand-up you most likely know who he is and have seen at least a few of his jokes. He’s released somewhere around 5hrs worth of material in the past 2-3yrs, which is unheard of in the stand-up world. I’ve seen a lot of people say this last special was his worst, but I think it’s on par with most of his other stuff, which means I think it’s great. He’s a living legend who, unlike a lot of people, is still open to changing as he gets older. In almost every special he talks you through his thought process and why he thinks the things he does, even though sometimes he knows his opinions are wrong or controversial (sometimes it’s for the sake of the joke, other times it’s a rare honesty). If you’ve never seen him do stand-up, don’t start with this one, go back to his pre-hiatus specials (2006 or so) or at least back to 2017. If you’ve seen him before but haven’t watched this one yet, do it, it’s another great one. (available on Netflix)
Mike Birbiglia is the best living storyteller comedian. Every special he’s had has been a work of art and feels a little different from your usual stand-up in a comedy club. When I say “storyteller comedian” I mean that each special is conceptual, like a concept album from a band…..but with jokes/stories instead of songs. He’s one of the few comedians worthy of doing his act for a year on Broadway, which he did. “The New One” is another great one, don’t let it pass you by. (available on Netflix)
I didn't know who Ramy Youssef was except for a few random ads I'd seen for his show on Hulu, simply titled “Ramy," so I was surprised to see people putting him on their “best of” lists for stand-up. Well I’m glad I did, because he’s one funny dude. His special was filmed in the middle of the Chicago Multicultural Center, with the crowd being on all sides of the stage, making it feel more intimate and different (this is mostly thanks to Bo Burnham and Jerrod Carmichael, who have been working magic in the directing and producing departments of multiple comedy specials over the past couple years). With every joke Ramy launches into it sounds like he’s about to give a Ted Talk on the subject, and the audience never knows if that’s what’s about to happen because he doesn’t mind taking his time setting up each joke, calmly strolling through the silence and taking a left turn at the last second to crack a joke that relieves the tension in the room to everyone’s delight. He’s a young guy, and I look forward to him having a long career in this business. (available on HBO)
Stand-Up Quick Picks:
Mae Martin - A Canadian living in England, Mae’s stage presence is like a squirrel with a severe anxiety - she’s got a lot to say, and it’s all hilarious. This half-hour special is somewhat similar to Birbiglia’s conceptual style, being that she tells you what is basically her life story, from elementary school to her now early 30s, and how it all revolves around her addictive personality. Can’t wait to see more from her in the future. (30min special available in the UK section of the “Comedians of the World” compilation on Netflix)
Ivan Decker - Another Canadian, Decker has more opinions on restaurants and fast food than you would think possible, most of which I agree with. If you’re looking for a half-hour of just straight up laughs and want to avoid anything dark, cerebral, political, or too personal, watch this. (30min special available in the Canada section of the “Comedians of the World” compilation on Netflix)
Gary Gulman - Many older comedians have taken stances about current events, the political climate, the younger generation, and other things that could be considered outdated. Some of them make fun of themselves for not being able to change, and some others double down and awkwardly rail against it all in ignorance. So it’s nice when a 50yr old man sees the change around him and embraces it. And it’s always good to see someone who’s been battling their depression take it seriously, while making you laugh along the whole way. The special does awkwardly cut in and out of what seems like a short documentary with Gulman, so going back and forth between him on stage and the documentary is a bit jarring and I think ruins the flow of his jokes (timing is everything in comedy, after all). But otherwise it’s a good special. (1hr special “The Great Depresh” available on HBO)
Ron Funches - Ron Funches talks about what he loves, and doesn’t care if you don’t like the same things, because one thing he loves is that YOU love things too. Positivity reigns supreme with Funches, and laughing along with him at his own jokes is one of the most delightful experiences in stand-up I’ve had this past year. (1hr special “Giggle Fit” available on Comedy Central)
BONUS STAND-UP SPECIAL!
I felt the need to add this one since I didn’t do a “best of” for stand-up last year, because this set of specials by James Acaster is hands down one of the best things in stand-up this past DECADE. Acaster’s style is different than anything else I’ve ever seen and I love it. You may think it’s because he’s British, but no, I’ve seen a lot of British comedy as well and Acaster is just in a league of his own in this world.
Now get ready - in 2018 he released 4 specials at the same time. FOUR. Why? Because they all relate together (you’ll find them, in order, on Netflix). It’s important to watch them in order because each special after the first one has callbacks to the previous ones. In order to get the full experience it would be best to binge them, but since most of us rarely have 4hrs of uninterrupted time, just do yourself a favor and try to watch them as close together as possible. He does talk a little fast sometimes and his accent can make it hard to understand now and then for us Americans, but after watching him for a bit you get into the groove. It would definitely be considered “alternative comedy,” but I can’t say enough what a work of genius these 4hrs of his are. The design and coordination of the stage and his outfits are only outdone by the tightness of his jokes. James Acaster is definitely an Artist in my books. (available on Netflix)
Best TV of 2019
And welcome to my last section of this terribly long post! As with the other sections of this whole thing there was plenty of shows I didn’t get around to watching all the ones I wanted to (The Boys, On Becoming a God in Central Florida, Unbelievable, Dead to Me, Watchmen.....to name a few), but of the things I did watch, these were my favorites. Also I should note that in this section I only wanted to include shows that were brand new in 2019 or shows that I had never watched before this year. So that’s why you won’t see me raving about Bojack or Big Mouth or Always Sunny e.t.c.....
Over the past decade we’ve been inundated with post-apocalyptic tales in all of our media - tv, movies, books, and video games - it’s been everywhere, especially in the form of zombies, so I don’t blame you for simply browsing past it upon seeing that it’s another zombie show. However, if you give it a chance, I think you’ll find it beats out pretty much any other post-apocalyptic show ever made (not counting comedies). Black Summer takes the best parts of the genre and packs them all into 8, 30min episodes that move things along in every one. This isn’t another hour long relationship drama with zombies moseying along in the background. This is an action packed show where the zombies run after you and no character is really safe. Plenty of drama and emotions as well, but no one is able to dwell on their thoughts for long before having to move on to survive. This is the zombie show I’ve always wanted, I really hope it continues and stays this good. (available on Netflix)
I may be biased since I loved the video game and am a big geek in general, but even if you’re not you may like this (plenty of non-fantasy nerds loved most of Game of Thrones, so who knows). Set in a fantasy world with mages, elves, monsters, and other mystical things, The Witcher is all about “destiny.” In this world Witchers are humans with special abilities who hunt monsters, have no king or allegiance to any one city, and are generally feared or despised by your average townsfolk. There’s only a handful of them left now, and none of them are too keen on talking about why. The story follows Geralt, a stoic witcher who just wants to hunt monsters and be left alone. Cirilla, a child princess with unknown abilities and on the run from a ceaseless army. And Yennefer, a peasant woman who is more than she seems. With plenty of monster slaying (both human and not), fantastical magic, deadpan humor, and a fair share of romance, it’s a wonderful tale and I can’t wait for season 2. I might suggest ocasionally watching with subtitles on - there’s a lot of odd names of people and places, so it can help sometimes. (available on Netflix)
If I told you there was a self-aware, 4th-wall-breaking, coming-of-age, post-apocalyptic, action/comedy show…..you’d at least watch the first episode, right? Well look no further, because here it is! I watched this show on a whim because I was bored at work. I wasn’t sure if I liked it for the first 2 episodes or so, thinking the humor was too cheesy or for “the young people,” but once it clicked I was in. Part of what kept me in was wondering what the heck Matthew Broderick was doing in this show I’d never heard of. It wasn’t until after finishing the season that I found out it was based on a comic, which makes sense because the entire time I was watching I thought “This feels like a comic…..” In a twist, instead of just your normal post-apocalyptic scenarios, there is an event that seemingly turns only adults into mindless zombies, but not the grotesque type we’re used to. There’s also a couple of adults that seem to not have been quite fully affected, so can all the adults actually be saved? Well, the kids will try to find out…..you know, when they’re not busy having their first kiss, throwing dance parties, and trying not to be enslaved or killed by the jocks. (available on Netflix)
Atypical had its 3rd season premiere this past year on Netflix. I’d never been particularly interested in watching it but for whatever reason threw it on one day. I’m glad I did. It’s equal parts comedy and drama, about a high school senior with autism trying to find his independence, his sister figuring out what, and who, she loves, and a marriage that might not make it to the end of the school year. Plenty of hilarious and heartwrenching moments, and, as far as I can tell, a good portrayal of what living with autism (at least one type of it) and living with someone who has autism is like. If you’re sick of sitcoms and mockumentaries (Modern Family, The Office, e.t.c….) but don’t want to watch serious, hour-long dramas, then this show is for you. Again, just as with Black Summer, I think the 30min format suits this show very well, keeping things moving while giving you everything you need at the same time. (available on Netflix)
“A new animated series from the creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender” is all you have to say to pique my interest. This had been on my back catalogue to watch for a while, and with some free time over the holidays and the release of its 3rd season, I dove in. The art style is…..different, but I ended up liking it. Similar to Avatar it’s a fun for the whole family, “a few kids traveling around their divided world trying to save it” type of show. Do your best to not compare it directly to Avatar though and just judge it on its own. I did and I enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to season 4! (available on Netflix)
Well that’s all folks! Thanks for taking the time to read (or skim) through this beast of a years’ end review. As always, let me know what you think and what your favorites were this year too, and feel free to share this. Peace!
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